Term 3 is well underway!  We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and restful break.  Term 3 is extremely busy with Year 10 exams, weekly excursions for various year groups including Launceston College’s Production of Bring it On and Year 7 Planetarium, Laurel House Respectful Relationships and Consent sessions for Year 9s, Year 8 Camp, Duke of Edinburgh Camp, RACT Driving lessons and the Northern Tasmanian Netball Championships, to just name a few things.  We had a number of Year 10s attend an industry excursion to Haywoods and Cromarty in Launceston last Wednesday. Thank you to the businesses for hosting us, Beacon Foundation for organising this and Mr Krushka and Mrs Berwick for accompanying the students. Our students are to be commended on how well they represented the school.

Mid-year reports were sent home at the end of Term 2.  The reports provide students and parents with the opportunity to reflect on learning progress and celebrate both achievement and effort. We celebrated student achievement and commitment to learning, along with Cross Country champions,  at our Whole School Assembly on Wednesday 7th August – congratulations to all students who received certificates at this assembly.  Thanks to our MCs Lorissa and Maverick and all students who gave reports.  We also had our school band do a great performance of the song Edge of Town by Middle Kids.  Thanks to Mr Wootton for getting a band together – we look forward to more performances!

NAPLAN

Reports for Years 7 and 9 have been posted home. We have begun to examine our NAPLAN data. Whilst this is one set of data collected in a week of testing for students, we do look at NAPLAN data in relation to our Australian Curriculum data and PAT (Progressive Achievement Test) data.  This helps us to identify where our students are at and to plan our teaching to target key literacy and numeracy skills and look at supports we can put in to place with students to help build their literacy and numeracy skills during their high school education.

 Please contact us if you have any questions.

Solar Funding Schools

In the Term 2 holidays, the solar panels were installed at the school with this funding being made available through the Renewable Energy School Program.

Farewell and thank you to Jane Baker, Youth Support Worker

We are very grateful for the work Jane has undertaken with our students in 2023 and 2024 and we wish her all the best as she winds up her role with us.  Jane has been a supportive and positive role model for a number of students and encouraged students to build their skills in a variety of ways.

Term 3 Parent/Teacher/Student

At the end of this week all our students will receive a letter which provides families with information about how to book appointments for our Term 3 Parent/Teacher/Student Interview Evenings.

Our interviews will be held on Monday, 26 August, from 3:30 – 5:30pm on Tuesday, 27 August from 3:30 – 5.00pm.  Year 7- 8s will be in the Library and Years 9-12 will be in the PAC. These interviews will give both parents and teachers an opportunity to discuss how to best support students’ ongoing learning.  Students are strongly encouraged to attend with their parents/carer. 

We look forward to seeing you at our Parent/Teacher/Student afternoons.

Uniform

Thank you to families who have been supporting their child to wear the correct uniform.  It is wonderful to see students wearing the correct uniform and with pride. Students should not be wearing non-school hoodies at school.  Students are permitted to wear plain  black long sleeve hoodless shirts under the school polo in the colder months. 

School Attendance

Every school day matters.

There are lots of things you can do to set your child up for success:

Make sure your child goes to school, every day.

Going to school every day gives your child every chance to learn and grow and connect with their mates and teachers. It’s where bright futures start and where students will benefit the most.

Get them excited for school. If you show a positive attitude and excitement towards school, your child will pick up on that.

The most common thing we hear from students, of all ages, is that school is where they can:

• spend time with their friends and teachers.
• create new and fun experiences.
• find their interests.
• learn new things.
• open up their options – for whatever future they want (whether that’s their dream job or to travel around the world).

Share these positives with your child.

Talk to your child about school.

Open up a conversation with your child about what’s happening at school. It will help you to better support their interests and confidence in learning. If you show an interest in school, they’ll know that getting an education is important and valued. Celebrate the milestones big and small! Celebrate milestones such as making it through the first day or week of school. And remember: all milestones look different.

If it’s a big achievement for your child, it’s important to recognise it. Set up a time to talk to your child’s teacher. If you’re struggling to get your child to school, help is available.

Please talk to us at school if you need support with attendance. We’ll support you, in whatever way we can.

https://anything.tas.gov.au/schools

Tori and Miss Rainbow travelled to Hobart, as recipients of the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize. Their visit included a tour of Parliament House and a meeting with Minister Guy Barnett and Luke Edmonds MLC, during which they highlighted the importance of the prize and its impact.

Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize 2025 Entries

Well done to Ella B, Rhylan W and Julienne M.

These three student’s essays were shortlisted to be sent off as the SHS entries in the 2025 Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize.

2025 essays were able to be written about either of the two below essay questions:

The Battle of Fromelles was a ‘spectacular defeat’. Why is it considered one of the most significant moments in Australia’s military history?

Or

Approximately 300 Australian women served as nurses during World War 1. What is the significance of their service?  

Below are extracts from all three student’s essays who are entering this year. 

Announcements will be made to school at the end of the month about who has been shortlisted for an interview across the state.

We wish all students the very best of luck and commend their efforts on entering this prestigious prize and working so incredibly hard on their historical essays.

Julienne M

The ‘Battle of Fromelles’ is considered a significant moment in Australia’s military history due to the tragic number of lives lost within a 24-hour period. The ‘Battle of Fromelles’ was ‘a spectacular defeat’ as it was the Australian Imperial Force’s 5^th Divisions first campaign located on the Western Front during the First World War. The results of this conflict were Australia suffering ‘over 5,533 casualties and 2,000 soldiers killed in action or dying of wounds with some 400 being captured’. This is believed to be the greatest loss of life in any 24-hour period in Australia’s military history. This essay will discuss the role battle tactics played in determining the outcomes of the ‘Battle of Fromelles,’ the significant loss of life at Fromelles and how the British Forces became more strategic in their approach towards the Germans after this heart-breaking outcome. Forgotten soldiers who did not survived Fromelles histories have been discovered due to historian Lambis Englezos. The lost diggers histories are being un-covered using DNA testing to connect them once again with their families. Today, memorials acknowledge the forgotten diggers at Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery and VC Corner. The discovery of the Fromelles diggers allows their stories to be discovered and remembered .

Ella B

Twenty-five Australian nurses died during World War One (WW1) and eight were awarded the Military Medal for bravery. This statistic demonstrates the significant role that 300 Australian nurses played during the First World War . Australian women served in the Australian Army Nursing Service during the war. For many Australians when the word WW1 comes to mind, the image of males fighting in battles and the conflict which occurred in key locations such as the Western Front, in trenches or on the banks of Gallipoli is what comes to mind. The First World War is associated with alarming death statistics. Without the role of nurses in war the number of wounded and dead soldiers would be significantly higher. Women’s roles as nurses are often the forgotten figures of the war yet their efforts were fundamental to the success of the war effort. Nurses played a key role in ensuring the treatment of the sick and wounded soldiers.  The significance of nurses in the First World War cannot be overlooked as the work they undertook was exhausting and dangerous. Nurses in WW1 experienced the true horrors of war firsthand and many who went to help never made it home.

Rhylan W

War history rarely uses terms such as ‘spectacular defeat’. However, when it comes to learning about the Battle of Fromelles and the value this moment holds for Australia’s military history, no other term is appropriate to explain its significance. The Battle of Fromelles is a momentous historical event shaping Australia’s past and present. Between July 28^th,1914, and November 11^th, 1918, the largest war the world had ever seen took place; this was predominantly based in Europe, where nations forged alliances to bolster their military capabilities. The Battle of Fromelles took place in France on July 19^th, 1916. This arduous battle lasted less than 24 hours, resulting in a catastrophic massacre by the German forces. The Australian’s 5^th Division and British 61^st planned to bombard the German’s 6^th Bavarian Reserve Division relentlessly; poor communication, planning and timing caused this battle to become a poignant chapter in Australia’s military history. The Battle of Fromelles is akin to unravelling a hidden chapter from Australia’s past.  Fromelles leads to the unearthing of a sombre truth concealed from the Australian and Allied forces and supporters at home. Today, Australians travel to Pheasant Wood Cemetery to honour recent memorials that have close links with DNA testing that has been collected from the mass graves in Fromelles. The once-forgotten ‘spectacular defeat’ will be examined to unveil how it has impacted Australia’s military past and why it is considered one of the most significant moments in our war history.

Recently, Mr Tony Saunders from Woolnorth Renewables joined us to celebrate and officially recognise the sponsorship arrangement which enabled the purchase of a CNC plasma cutting system. We are very grateful for our industry connections and ongoing collaborations and look forward to the work students can create with access to this advanced manufacturing technology.

Working in our partnership with the Beacon Foundation some Year 10 students recently attended a tour of facilities at Cromarty and Haywards in Launceston. Students gained an insight into employment opportunities, apprenticeship pathways, advanced manufacturing systems and processes. Fabulous feedback was received about the group and their interactions with industry members. Well done, everyone.

Well done to our SLB students on their planning for Scottsdale High Olympics to get our students into the Olympic Spirit. They had competitions that were planned over the past two weeks and each Home Group has been assigned a country to support and follow over the next two weeks.During the first week they had a mini Opening Ceremony with a short torch relay - thanks to students who participated. Home groups have decorated their room or classroom door to reflect the country they are following throughout the Olympics . Our SLB are excited to lead activities reflective of Olympism fostering a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.

 

On Thursday 8^th of August, a group of interested Year 7-10 students attended Launceston College’s Production of Bring It On, at the Princess Theatre in Launceston. Our students were treated to a very entertaining, energetic and inspirational performance from the diversely talented cast members.

Inspired by the hit film, Bring It On – The Musical explores what happens when people take a risk and ‘cross the line’. Campbell has it all, especially after being named captain of the successful Truman High School cheerleading squad. This is, until an unexpected letter arrives in the mail, informing her that she has been redistricted to the inner-city school of Jackson. Campbell’s forced move teaches her many life lessons about friendship, deception and the power of crossing the line.

Our students enjoyed the college’s production of Bring It On and were impressed by the dynamic performance of the cheer leading routines and tricks. With over 150 students involved in both on and off-stage, Bring It On was a wonderful showcase of the many creative talents of our youth.

It is hoped that our students came away from Bring It On not only inspired, but with some positive messages and affirmations that will support them with their choices around how they deal with adversity and challenge within their daily lives.

Thank you so much to the staff who accompanied the students on this excursion and a big thank you to parents and carers for enabling students to attend. On behalf of Scottsdale High School, we would like to congratulate Launceston College on an extremely professional and wonderfully entertaining production of Bring It On and look forward to seeing what next year’s production brings!

Great to see Year 9 Students enjoying reading and engaging with the award winning text 'Tomorrow When the War Began' by John Marsden.

Year 7 students had a great time visiting the Planetarium and Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk on Tuesday 6th August. This was a fantastic way to end their Earth and Space Science unit.

Mrs Rooney’s Year 7 History Extension formalised their trench knowledge through modelling...and tasting ! What a fantastic hands on learning way to demonstrate their knowledge of World War 1 trench warfare. The cakes were later enjoyed by the students’ classes.

Well done, to Year 9 and 10 students who performed at the Bridport Scallop Festival. Thank you to Mrs Sharp for supporting the girls with this opportunity. We are very proud of you.